plaisance and decorum towards those whose rank and station in life deinanded his respect. Intent on reforming religion, he was not scrupulous in choosing his measures, provided they contributed to that end; as rebellion, sedition, and the most lawlefs outrages were sanctioned under the specious pretext of supporting the cause of God and religion. Zealous in the cause he had undertaken, he took no care to temper his conduct with that benignity and moderation of disposition, which would have. rendered his 'character an object of admiration to future ages, and transmitted his name with unsullied

applause to the latest posterity.

As a political hero he seems to have had no claim to eminence. Too much ardour of mind, and too much zeal in religious matters, disqualified him for that minute and calm investigation of the various pafsions and interests of men, which would have intitled him to such a character. Ambition perhaps never

entered into his most extravagant thoughts. If he had entertained any views of temporary advantage, he might have profited from the unlimited confidence of the public, in his sanctity and integrity, which was carried to a degree of veneration. His abilities were constantly made use of to serve the purposes of more designing heads; as he probably was never sensible of the utmost depth of their designs.

As a man of letters he seems to have succeeded more happily. The strength of his arguments was often confefsed by the silence or confusion of his adversaries. His declamations were strong and vehement, in which he was highly favoured by nature. His lan

guage is nervous and convincing, bold and animated; and gives us no despicable specimen of the oratory of those days. His arguments are rather forcible than polished or specious, and seem to be dictated more from his own feelings than owing their effect to studied composition. Though his talents in this respect must be allowed to have been great, yet his foibles are no lefs conspicuous. His discourses are often void of common civility, apparently dictated by the most violent fury, and in some instances deprived of every particle of candour and benevolence. His stile is often harsh beyond measure, boisterous, and furious, and the epithets he bestows upon his opponents are conceived in the grofsest stile of scurrility and abuse, but these may partly be considered as a general disadvantage under which he laboured, and characteristic of the age in which he lived. As an historian he may be considered as honest, making allowance for the singular figure he made in the period of which he wrote, though he can never rank high in that line.

His character in private life was that of a sincere," and zealous divine; open and impartial in reproving vice, and constant in promoting the cause of religion and morality. He considered rank and titles only as uselefs appendages; and as frankly condemned the vices. of the great, as he reproved the sins of the vulgar. Moderation, and that liberality of sentiment which allows for our own failings, as well as the infirmities of others, was a principle he seldom recognised, and which the whole tenor of his conduct and writings

seems to disclaim. From the stiffness and gravity of a rigid divine, he could sometimes however condescend to indulge in the most laughable scenes of humour and pleasantry, for which at times he seems to have maintained a peculiar predilection. He was modest and unafsuming when his own interests or advantage were only in view; but vigilant and intrepid when he thought the interests of religion at stake. This indeed seems to have been the point which he constantly kept in view through the whole course of his career, and in which it is certain he succeeded. To affirm however that the Reformation, which he happily had a principal fhare in promoting, was owing to his abilities, will be giving him too much credit. It is certain that his part in the business was ably supported; but it is no lefs evident that the very absurd conduct of the clergy, and those in authority at that time, contributed as much to the succefs of his cause, as any efforts of his own. His treatment of the unfortunate Mary, has condemned him with those of posterity who have only pictured to themselves the situation of an unfortunate female, born to be insulted by an impudent ill bred clergyman: But the period perhaps may arrive when the character of Knox will stand up for vindication, and that of Mary be reduced to its proper standard. It may then perhaps be allowed that his behaviour was only what in prudence, under his circumstances, it ought to have been. GNATHO.

The lucubrations of Ascanius concerning the diversities of mankind, concluded.

I

Language,-Permanent babits.

COME in my rapid manner of suggestion to make some observations on the striking diversities that have been thought to exist among the inhabitants of the earth, and to denote the diversity of their origin.

It is not my purpose to enter into any disquisitions of an antiquarian nature, or that might lead to cavil or doubtful disputation; but in the spirit, and with the sentiment of the excellent Prospectus of this literary miscellany, "To consider the world at large, as the proper theatre for literary improvements, and the whole human race, as constituting but one great society, whose general advancement in knowledge must tend to augment the prosperity of all its parts, and to break down those little distinctions which accident has produced to set nations. at variance; and which ignorance has laid hold of to disunite, and to render hostile to each other, such a large proportion of the human race.

It is certain that the very great alterations which have happened during an unknown lapse of ages, on the surface of this planet, have separated or dispersed its inhabitants, and cut them off by the interposition of seas and deserts, from being connected with their remote fellow creatures, or being acquainted with their common origin.

In society at large, as in the individual of mankind, there is a state of infancy which precludes the remembrance of those things which happened during its imbecility and imperfection.

Families and nations thus scattered, lose all remembrance of their fraternal connection, the epithet of a stranger and an enemy become synonimous, and it is high civilization alone, that by the interposition of the arts, the sciences, and commerce, restores, the elective attraction of man to man, and teaches him that to be benevolent, and social, and peaceable, is to be happy.

But if in a family, or among the nations, it shall be discovered that they spring from one stock and origin, and if endearing proofs fhall be brought to flash upon the tender and melancholy recollection, of primeval pleasures and habitations, the repulsive and unafsociating principles of estrangement. will be converted into a vigorous and extraordinary principle of union and participation of benefits.

In the decline of a charming summer day, while these sublime meditations occupied my mind at Trimontium, I was sitting on a bank not far distant from my peaceful flock, separated from their pasture only by the railing of my exotic walk.